I noticed today that the number of postings is just barely keeping abreast of new members joining. I find that very interesting - not for any deep psychological reason - just the curiosity of it.
Montezumawell has already expounded on the dynamic of large groups like this one. I have to say that it is looking more and more accurate every day.
I mean - look at me. I've only been posting actively to this site for a couple of months (well - since January - but really only actively very recently). I've already cracked the top 20 in total posts - of 1200+ members. Wild. Amazing what a little effort can accomplish.
The Internet is a wild and freaky place - and yet it so closely mirrors real life it's strange. I guess we all approach it from a different viewpoint because interacting on computers seems like it ought to be so much different from real life - and yet the dynamics are very similar.
Sorry - didn't mean to get started. Educational technology and specifically web-based education is my current topic of research (online gaming is the real hot topic for me) and I get a little excited about it.
'Weird is a relative, not an absolute.' - A. Einstein
I look forward to new members posting...new ideas, perspectives, etc. I think perhaps some of the more regular members might 'encourage' newbies to hop into the mix...not quite sure how the regulars could do that...maybe a pm or something...just something I've been thinking about...
Maybe a 'Newest Members' list or something would be nice, with the last 10, 15, or whatever, members who've joined listed under a heading such as 'Please Welcome...' Their username could be a link to PM them and welcome them to the site. Joe you don't have enough to keep you busy, right??
Gee , when I click on members the first one listed is 'teva joe'. Come to think of it, that guy is pretty new. Didn't there used to be another 'joe' around here??
Tell you what, I'll send you a script that'll send them an email from the 'Welcome Wagon Crew' soon as they join up, and save us all a bunch of work!
First Off – Let me say this is my first posting. The main reason I have not added anything to the forum, until now, is that I have been very satisfied with just reading and learning from what others have written. The site covers a very wide variety of topics and most everything that I have wanted to learn about has been covered. This is a wonderful site you can simply log on and select a new hike, gather all the info and head out. The greatest part is that you can be relatively confident of the information, I know of no other site that is as up to date about Arizona hikes and Arizona hiking topics. Joe please keep up the GREAT WORK.
I'm still trying to get up to speed on all that is here. So for now I'm enjoying the reading. Also I'm limited to the time that I can access the internet, at least for now and in the future I'm hoping that will be different.
It did take some courage to make that first post. I have never been envolved in any sort of on-line forum. I don't know if I would have posted anything by now or not, but that free T-shirt was a nice incentive. As soon as I made that post GTG gave me a nice welcome. That was cool. After registering and exploring for a short while I know this is a group with the same love for the outdoors that I have. I feel comfortable with that and if in the future I feel that I have something to contribute, I will.
So - a welcome wagon crew - and I'm part of it. Are you sure you want three reprobates like us to represent the HAZ group? :twisted: (Man, there is all kinds of fodder here for jokes - better lay low for now... ) If we're going to do it though, we need to come up with a better name than 'Welcome Wagon Crew.' Give me some time and I'll come up with something.
By the way - should teva joe's name be changed to 'Master of the Universe and Supreme Court Justice of HAZ'
Just a thought.
'Weird is a relative, not an absolute.' - A. Einstein
Considering the effort Joe puts into the site, and the number of suggestions we send him to improve/add to this place...Joe could probably tell us to do about anything and be within his rights. I don't know about him being a master of the universe(maybe a master of his universe) but he does hold the title of HHIC (Haz Hiker In Charge)....
I agree, Welcome Wagon Crew doesn't work, perhaps something like Three Guys saying Hi. OK, no, that's dumb. You'd think an English teacher could come up with a decent name...maybe the HAZ Welcome Crew...just loose the wagon part? Or maybe the Haz Intro Team?...wow, I really suck at this... OK, I'm out. I'll start sending hello notes, someone else think of a name...
This topic has become a 'classic' and we look forward to reading the flow of opinions here. It's worth noting that we have consistently checked the membership roster ever since it rose over the 100 member level. We're primarily interested in the 'location' information. When we see a new member is from a location of interest to us, we send them a message welcoming them to the site and asking a few questions about hiking-related aspects of their location. We've only received one reply from such efforts. We have been pondering the opinions presented here and, in light of our experience, we're not sure how well unsolicited messages from some of the 'regulars' on this list would be received. Such communications activity might actually backfire. People do like to 'lurk' before posting. We did. When you are new to a group, you have no clue how the group dynamics function or how well your input might be received. Certainly, we all have probably joined groups where our input wasn't well received. At least, we have, anyway.
Soooo....perhaps Joe, with the assistance of his welcome wagon committee, could draft up an 'auto delivery message.' When a person joins the group, the server could dish out an instant message with some 'testimonials' from some of the 'regulars,' some reassurances about posting and some helpful information about usage of various site functions. Joe's real good about editing and tweaking things to make them more readable. For example, he edited 'The Cairn Poll' into something real usable. We haven't ever encountered a webmaster as competent and responsible as Joe. We're not trying to fluff his ego. It's just a fact. Anyway, we're sure that he has been reading and digesting all of this and that his creative wheels are turning at this very moment trying to accommodate the fine opinions posted in this great topic. Keep posting, this topic is well worth your continued and repeat input.
If you want to get more of the behind the scenes lurking types to post, it may help to have more basic threads running. Even some of the things that have already been done might generate enthusiasm. Real simple things that everyone has an answer or an opinion on.
Sometimes a philosophical question is found interesting.
No matter what you do some folks are going to be to skittish to make a post even on a very friendly site like this. They will read every post, learn and be entertained but will be too timid to participate. Some are going to visit to enjoy hiking in a vicarious manner and never actually do it very much. All that is okay but one will find more enjoyment if they participate.
I like to hear new opinions and meet new personalities. Everyone has something interesting to say. Don't be shy, just jump right on in. Don't be afraid to have a differing opinion. A whole bunch of differing opinions can all be right.
The number of posts someone has does not do anything for me at all. Someone with three posts is just as important as someone with 3000 posts.
When GTG, Fritzski and I did the Don's Trek long hike we explained about the site and invited a number of people to check it out. Several expressed what we felt was real interest; GTG and I both posted notes under the Don's Trek topic inviting those we'd met to post and let us know what they thought. Didn't get a single response, which really surprised me.
Hooli, aka Trihairopelli
"They say the dog is man's best friend.
I don't believe that. How many of your friends have you neutered?"
--Larry Reeb
Well Said Glen! Glen's 100% correct, especially in regard to differing viewpoints...I've found it interesting that there have not been any 'arguments' as of late...as a group, we tend to have similar perspectives, which can be good, but not always....
ck1 wrote:...I've found it interesting that there have not been any 'arguments' as of late...as a group, we tend to have similar perspectives,
Well, I haven't really seen any topics that would really promote an argument. Trust me - I'd jump right in if I saw one.
The posts and topic here generally center around something we all love - hiking in AZ. I don't think you're going to have many arguments from anyone in that regard.
Now - if you wanted to start some controversy, you could turn this into a politically active site, or something similar. But I think that the general feel of the site is just fine, in fact I like it tremendously. Too many controversial topics and we will start alienating even the regulars. :twisted:
'Weird is a relative, not an absolute.' - A. Einstein
Route Editor
Route Scout
- didn't mean to get started. Educational technology and specifically web-based education is my current topic of research (online gaming is the real hot topic for me) and I get a little excited about it.
